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The term, "student-athlete" often loses it's true meaning when people only see kids compete in games & matches on Friday nights. What goes unnoticed, most times, seems to be the hard work they put in during practice, in the classroom during the school day, and out in the community in their "off time".
Cincinnati Public Schools makes an effort to recognize deserving student-athletes that embody all three phases listed above. Our goal is to help award students for their efforts in forming a better community around their schools, for embracing challenges in the classroom and working with their peers, for performing at the top level in competition, for being a leader. Ultimately, this is what gives younger students something to look up to and strive for. Our students classify as FAR more than just an athlete - see their stories below!
September
Roshni Rai - Aiken High School - Cross Country
October
Muhammad Bah - Shroder High School - Football
December
Reggie Taylor-Benton - Western Hills High School - Wrestling
January
Ti'Aija Christopher - Woodward High School - Basketball
Dartanion Battle - Shroder High School - Basketball
COMING SOON!
Ohio High School Basketball A.P. State Rankings
BOYS
DIVISION 2
1) Taft
10) Aiken
Over winter break, a handful of CMAC basketball teams participate in out-of-city, and in some cases, out-of-state holiday basketball tournaments. Check out what some of our schools were able to accomplish!
Aiken Falcons
Boys - Aiken traveled to Kentucky to participate in the Lake Cumberland Holiday Hoops Classic. After a few exciting games, including a 33 point performance from D'Arris Dean in the semi-final against Madison Central, the Falcons came home with a trophy as they topped Beechwood in the Championship game. Dean was named tournament MVP!
Photo taken by Cincinnati Enquirer
Gamble Gators
Boys & Girls - Participated in the Ripley Holiday Classic where the boys and girls team's both finished 1-1 with impressive showings against strong competition!
For the boys, Mike McCants had a high point with 28 points in a win against Augusta. For the ladies, Simone Christmon dropped 29 points in an overtime victory against St. Patrick.
Hughes Big Red
Boys - The Big Red made their winter break trip down to Clearwater, Florida where they took part in the Nature Coast Christmas Tournament. After beating Clearwater and Alonso High Schools, Hughes would ultimately come up short against a strong Wesley Christian High School team in the Championship game. Not to be overlooked, Hughes ended up with two players on the All-Tournament team. Cam McKenzie, who had 17 points in a tight semi-final win, and Paul McMillan IV, who dropped 40 in the Championship game, both earned plaques!
The Taft High School Senators were the aggressors in a battle against the 2018 State Champion Deer Park on Friday night. Taft got off to a slow start, but would go on a scoring surge at the end of the second half, never looking back to win the game 78-71.
Despite getting easy looks at the basket, Taft struggled early finding themselves down 13-2 before Demarco Bradley Jr hit a couple of corner three-pointers to spark a run, closing the gap to five at the first quarter break.
Taft remained aggressive in the second quarter by cutting off Deer Park on multiple drives to the basket and even coming up with a few blocked shots by Nekhi Smith, but foul trouble kept the game close as the Senators led 35-33 at half time.
At the beginning of the third, Taft found what they needed to counter brief runs from Deer Park, as Romello Carleon hit some clutch shots from beyond the arch. However, foul trouble once again plagued the Senators and Deer Park was able to keep the game close.
The grit and relentless attack of Taft took over in the second half as both teams settled in. Taft forced Deer Park to turn the ball over several times down the stretch, and hot shooting from Bradley and Carleon only helped. Taft and the packed gym were then treated by a THUNDEROUS dunk by Stinger at the end of the third quarter that sent the entire crowd into a frenzy. Stinger was greeted by his teammates with chest bumps and high fives at the buzzer. See the dunk here courtesy of Basketball Hustle TV!
"Our playing style is fast, hard and physical", Coach Bradley said when describing how the game went. In the end, that style of play resulted in too much for Deer Park to handle and Taft now finds themselves atop the city rankings for D2 hoops!
Story by Theo Caldwell // Photo taken by Anthony Tribble, Cincinnati Enq